Bottle-cap remover



Aug. 8, 1939. E. P. TIFFAULT BOTTLE CAP REMOVER Filed March 6, 1937 Ema y ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1939 earns PATENT OFFiCE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for removing container closures, and may be used advantageously for removing crown type of caps from bottles.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device whereby container closures may be conveniently removed by simple manipulations of the container, and whereby at the same time the removed closure is delivered into a suitable re- 3' ceptable, thereby doing away with the trouble and annoyance of having numerous closures all over the floor behind a counter and serving bar.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated character which will grasp and hold the container or bottle placed in it until the closure cap thereof is completely removed, thereby eliminating dropping of the container while removing the'closure cap.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple device well suited for economic manufacture in large quantities, and one which is of efiicient and substantial design.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the 25 following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the device applied for use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the manner in which a bottle is disposed for the removal of its closure cap.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be apparent that the device includes a metal plate I6 of any suitable shape or design in outline. The plate ID has holes therein to accommodate suitable fastening elements such as the screws Ii whereby the device and therefore the plate may be fixed to a counter, bar, or other suitable support. The plate It; constitutes a fixed jaw. The upper end of the plate has formed integral therewith spaced apertured lugs I 2 which support a pivot It held against axial 50 movement by a head IQ on one end of the pivot and a split pin or the like I5 extending thru the other end of the pivot. A rigid elongated member I 8 has its upper end wrapped around the pivot I3 to effect a pivotal connection of the member It with respect to the plate It, so that said member may be moved toward and away from said plate I0. The lower end I! of the member I6 is bent outwardly at an angle to provide a manipulating means. The member I6 thus mounted constitutes a movable jaw. The plate I0 has a projection or lip I8 integral therewith, and the member It has a projection or lip I9 integral therewith on the inside. The projections I8 and I9 are disposed so as to engage a container closure such as a crown type of bottle cap, at points diametrically opposite each other, when the container is brought upwardly between the plate It and the pivoted member I6.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the movable jaw I6 has secured thereto on the inside thereof a stop 20. This stop is of L-shaped formation in the present instance and is secured by means of pins 2I. This stop prevents the upward movement of the closure cap asit is being removed from the container.

The movable jaw I6 is under the influence of resilient means in the form of a coil spring 22 having one end connected with one of the pins 2!, as at 23, and its opposite end is connected with one of the screws II as at 24. The spring 22 has a normal tendency to constantly urge the movable jaw I6 toward the fixed jaw provided by the plate Ill. The movement of the jaw I 6 toward the jaw I0 is limited by a bumper 25 of any suitable form carried by the upper pin 2|. This pin may be threaded so that the bumper 25 may be screwed thereon as shown in Fig. 3. By providing the bumper with a rubber head 26, it will eliminate noise when the jaw [6 moves toward the jaw II).

In accordance with another feature of the invention there is provided guiding means consisting of a pair of angl members 21 rigidly secured to the plate I9. The lower ends of the members 21 converge upwardly as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The members 21 constitute means for guiding the closure end of a container or bottle for the engagement of the projections I8 and IS with the closure or cap. With the container disposed in the manner stated and its cap engaged by the projections I8 and I9, by canting the container rearwardly, the closure cap will be instantly removed.

Directly above the projection I8, there is an opening 28 in the plate Ill which is in registration with a chute 29 secured to the plate ID at the rear thereof by any suitable means as indicated at 3B. The chute 29 constitutes means for receiving the removed closures or caps and for delivering them into a suitable receptacle, not

shown, provided for that purpose, as the closures or caps are removed. Attention is called to the fact that in the closure or cap removal operation, the latter as stated is prevented from moving upwardly by the stop 20, and the movable jaw l6 under the influence of the spring 22 causes the removed closure or cap to enter the chute 29 thru the opening 28 for disposal,

It is to he understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described, and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as to not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A device for removing container closures comprising a fixed jaw and a spring pressed relatively movable jaw pivotally connected thereto, each of said jaws having projecting closure engaging portions disposed for engagement with a closure for facilitating removal of a closure from a container upon which it is carried by canting the latter toward or away from the fixed jaw, and said fixed jaw having means for receiving the removed closure and for delivering it into a suitable receptacle.

2. A bottle cap remover comprising a fixedly supported plate, a downwardly dependent member pivotally connected near its upper end to said plate, and movable toward and away from said plate, a stop carried on said pivoted member facing toward said plate, said plate and pivoted member each carrying projecting cap engaging portions disposed for cooperation with said stop to facilitate removal of a cap from the bottle to which it is applied when the bottle is canted either in a direction toward or in a di rection away from the plate.

EMORY P. TIFFAULT. 

